Mumbai’s Mangroves & the Climate Question

Mumbai is a city shaped by the meeting of land and sea. For generations, mangroves have quietly protected its coastline, absorbing storm surges, stabilising soil, storing carbon, and sustaining fishing communities. Today, many of those mangroves are under threat.

In December 2025, the Bombay High Court permitted construction of a 26-kilometre coastal road connecting Versova to Bhayandar. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, the project could impact more than 103 hectares of forest land, much of it mangrove ecosystems.

Mangroves may appear modest, but their ecological role is extraordinary. They act as natural barriers against flooding, nurture marine biodiversity, and provide vital protection for coastal settlements.

For Mumbai’s Koli fishing communities, these ecosystems are deeply intertwined with livelihoods. Mangroves sustain fish populations, shelter boats during storms, and buffer settlements against rising tides.

Climate data already shows warning signs. According to the World Meteorological Organization, Mumbai’s sea levels rose by around 4.5 mm per year between 2013 and 2022.

Removing natural coastal defences in a city already vulnerable to flooding raises an important question: what kind of development should coastal cities pursue in an era of climate change?

At Bare Necessities, we often talk about waste and consumption. But the climate conversation is also about protecting the ecosystems that quietly sustain our cities.

Mangroves are one of nature’s most powerful climate solutions.

The future of coastal cities like Mumbai may depend on whether we choose to build with nature or against it.